Medical battery



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. PLEMMING.

MEDICAL BATTERY.

(No Model.)

No. 320,547. Patented June 23, 1885.-

N. PETERS Pholo'Lithognphar. Walhingifln. B4 c.

3 sheets -sheet 2.

Patented June 23, 1885.

r 0. FLEMMING.

MEDICAL BATTERY.

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O. FLEMMING.

MBDIGAL BATTERY. No. 320,547. I Patented June 23, 1885.

N, PETER5. Pholo-Lilhngmphcr, Wnhingiem 0,6,

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO FLEMMING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEDICAL BATTERY.

SPECIFICATEON rorming part of Letters Patent No. 320,547, dated June 23, 1885- Applicaiion filed March 17, 1883.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO FLEMMING, of

the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improvement in Medical Batteries,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to medical batteries in general; and it consists in certain combinations of apparatus to give intensity, quantity, interrupted or faradic currents, as desired, and regulate their strength and impulses, the whole being arranged in the form.

or induction currents of various intensities.

My object is also to provide a suitable and cheap means of securing the air-tight or fluidtight cover down tightly on the faradic battery-cell, to prevent spilling of the liquid during transportation, and to improve generally apparatus adapted to accomplish the above specified effects.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved universal medical battery with the lid open and broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same with the front lid down and a small part of the top lid broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of same on line at a",

with all of the lids closed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the battery-cell used when quantity currents are desired. Fig. 5 is a plan view of rent batteries. 5. 1 t .the faradic or interrupted currents.

the battery-cell used when intensity currents are required. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the faradic portion of the apparatus, in which the interrupted currents are regulated as Well as induced currents generated, and shows its connection with the main or continuous cur- Fig. 7 is a plan view of the polechanger used to change the polarity of Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the pole-changer and (No model.)

interrupter to the continuous currents. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the faradic penduluminterrupter with the adjuster in section; and Fig. 10 is a cross-section of same on line 3 y.

A is the case; A, the top lid; A"' and A*, the side lids or doors. The case is provided with a floor, A", at the top, and upon which the various apparatus is placed. For convenience in explanation we may conceive the said apparatus to be divided into two partsviz., the faradic battery and continuous battery.

The continuous battery is arranged as follows: Two rows of battery-plates, O Z-for instance, carbon and zinc, arranged alternately-proj ect downwardly from the floor A", and are connected at the top to spring contact-fin gers D by studs (2 and nuts d, the said studs being provided with holes (1" in their tops. The fingers are kept from displacement laterally by screws d", and are bent up at right angles to the floor, upon which they rest, and the fingers from each row of battery-plates rest on opposite sides of a commutator, B, constructed in the following manner.

A central rod,E,of hard rubber or equivalent insulating material, is supported in standardse e, and may be turned by a handle, E, having a pointer, c, on its end, which points to a plate, 6, having intensity or continuous current or its equivalent marked thereon, and the throw of said rod E is limited by the pin E, working between stops The rod E has two distinct sets of contacts arranged thereon-one to couple up the carbons and zines for quantity currents and the other to couple them up for intensity currents. In the former case plates E and E are arranged on each side. Those, E, connecting with the zines are connected together by piece e, and those, E connecting all the carbons on each side are connected together by piece 6.

WVith the commutator set as shown in Fig. 3, or at B in Fig. 1, all of the zincs will connect withbinding-post D by strip D, and the carbons with another binding-post, D and when two or more batteries are coupled together, as shown, the zinc-post D of one batteryis connected with the carbonpost D of the other by a plate or conductor, D. If both commutators B and B were turned as shown in Fig. 3, then the quantity current produced in the left-hand battery (see Fig. 1) is caused to pass through the right-hand battery, thereby coupling up the two large quantity batteries for intensity, whereby a large amount of quantity is obtained with a small amount of intensity; or if the binding-posts D D and D D were respectively connected together, then the entire double battery would be coupled up for quantity, and in either of these casesif the cauterizing-knife D be connected to bindingposts D and D it will become white hot, and the quantity of current may be varied to any desired degree by immersing the zinc and carbon plates of one or both batteries to a greater orless degree in the battery-fiuid contained in the cells G. (See Fig. 3.)

Now, to couple up the zines and carbons for intensity, the comm utator-rods E have at right angles to the plates EE metallic pieces F, so arranged that the batteries are coupled up in series-via, the zinc of cell No. 1 is connectcd to carbon of cell No. 2, and so on, and the zinc of cell No. 5 is connected to carbon of cell No. 6 by the stud F which passes through the rod E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and to increase the effect the cells G are divided up into small cells 9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The commutator set, as shown at B, Fig. l, is for intensity, and as shown at B is for quantity, and the total is a good admixture of quantity and intensity. When the battery is in use, the large cells G are raised up, so as to immerse the plates Z0 in the liquid to any extent desired, and when not in use they are lowered, as shown. To this end the cells G are supported in light metal frames G, having uprights G carrying guide-rollers g, and are furnished with projections G to prevent the displacement of the cells G on the frames. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The rollers 9 run upon vertical rods H, and the frames G and the cells G are raised by cords or chains h passing over pulleys H on the under side of floor A", and connect with wire straps G fastened to the frame G or its uprights. These cords are secured to hooks which connect with the levers H pivoted to the bottom of the box or case at h", and connected to form a frame by rods h. Pivoted to this frame at H are the footpedals H, which, when in action, rest upon the outer rod, h. After raising the batterycells to the desired height by pressing down upon the pedals H", they may be retained at that height by a catch pawl, H having notches h which catch on rod If. This is particularly necessary when the physician has no assistant. When the frames G are lowered, they rest upon springs G, which bring the cellsin their downward movement to rest gradually, thereby preventing spilling oftheliquid.

In the drawings two continuous batteries are shown; but it is evident that only one or several may be used.

So far we have described the batteries as they would be coupled for quantityor intensity, and also shown how they would be used for cautery purposes. It is evident that for a continuous current through the body they could be used by simply attaching the electrodes with the binding-posts D D but this is not suitable for electromedical purposes. Here I couple them up as follows: I I are two binding posts, to which are respect ively connected the conductor I and double conductors 1 all three of which are provided on their free ends with pins 1", which fit into holes d in the top of the studs d, in circuit with the fingers D and battery-plates, as shown in Fig. 3. Conductor 1 connects with the carbon of cell No. 1, and one of the conductors, I, has its pin I connected with any other cell desired, say No. 12, as shown, thus putting 12 cells of the battery into circuit.

The 'free conductor 1 is only used when changing the number of cells in circuit to prevent sudden shocks to the patient, by inserting its pin Pinto the proper place before withdrawing the other, and thus obviating the necessity of breaking the circuit. One of said binding-posts I is connected with contact-plate of commutator K, by frame It. The commutator-cylinder K", of hard rubber, has two plates, 70 and 70*, the latter of which is in circuit with thepivot k. (See Figs. 6 and 8.) This commutator is rotated by a handle, K so as to bring either contact 16 or k with either of the contact-springs is connected to binding posts K K, to which the electrodes are connected. (See Figs. 6 and 8.) This commutator may be made in any manner desired, that shown being simple and effective.

J is a switch-lever, which is in circuit with the contact-plate 7c of the commutator. jj are contact-pinaupon which the switch lever J works, the former of which is in circuit with the faradie part of the battery, and the latter of which is in circuit with the other bindingpost I. \Vhen the switch J is on pinj, a continuous current may be had through the binding-posts K, and this current may be interrupted, if desired, by simply rotating or rocking the commutator K, the former of which changes the polarity with every revolution, for the positive and negative currents from binding-posts I I, and which are conveyed to the springs 7c 70 of the binding-posts K K by the strips k k on the commutator, are alternatel y passed over the posts K K, according as to which of the springs 70 7c the strips It It are in contact with, and the latter simply breaks a current of the same polarity, as then the contact-strips k and It always return to the same spring, k k. This commutator, however, is simply designed as a polarity-changer. So far we have the continuous currents of quantity for cauterizing, and intensity or a combi nation of both for the nerves.

We now come to the interrupted currents.

L is a battery cell, in which are secured two carbon-plates in the usual manner on each side of the central orifice L in the lid, which, when the battery is not in use, is covered by a rubber air-tight or fluid-tight cover, L, having pivoted metal bar or rod Z. When this is shut down, as shown, the bar L pivoted to, the

ICO

cover, is swung around, and the screw L screwed down upon the bar Z, and if desired the point of the screw may enter a depression in the said bar to prevent displacement. When in use, the bar L and air-tight or fluid -tight cover are swung out of the way, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 6, and the zinc element L is inserted through the hole L, and the carbons and zincs are connected to the posts M M by plates at in. \Vhen the battery L is not in use, the zinc element L is removed and placed-in a drip chamber containing a little mercury to keep the zinc amalgamated, which chamber is suitably arranged at one side, as shown in Fig. 6.

P is an electro-magnet in circuit with said battery, and may be used to vibrate in the plate I" rapidly as in any rheotome, or to cause the interrupting pendulum Q to vibrate more slowly. The pendulum consists of a rod, Q, weighted on one end, Q and carrying an armature, Q, made of asplit tube on the other. This rod Q is pivoted by a pin, q, to the ring Q", being held therein by a stud, q, which also acts as one of the bearings for the ring Q in the frame Q. A small, delicate, and loose spiral spring, (j, is arranged around the pin q" to connect the rod Q, with the adjustingring Q, which conducts the electricity. This ring Q is provided with a handle, q, on top, and may be held in any position by screwstud q and clamping-screw q. The ring Q acts to control the number of oscillations per minute by limiting the downward throw of the armature Q The normal position of the pendulum Q. is shown in Fig. 9, in which the contact-spring q, which is secured to the rod Q near its pivotal point, is pressed against the contact-screw 1), carried in the end of an arm, 1?, which is pivoted to a post, I, and has its horizontal motion limited by a pin, 1;", on arm P and two stop-pins on post P. By this arrangement the screw 1) may be used for armature-plate I? when rapid.interruptions of the current are required, or for the pendulumspring (1 when slow interruptions are desired. If the contact-screw p, which closes the circuit through magnet P, were not designed to be swung around so as to be brought over the spring q or the armature I, two contacts would be required, and these would have to be adjusted alternately in changing from fast to slow vibrations, and vice versa, as both must not be used at the same time. My object is to make the one contact-screw do for both, and when adjusted for armature P it is also adjusted for spring q and its lever, and by simply turning it about over the spring q or armature I? the current through the magnet P is interrupted, as the said screw 2 is in the magnet-circuit. The support Q is in circuit with the post P and its spring armature I? with electro-inagnet P and with contactpin j, against which the pivoted contact-lever J works.

N is the inductioncoil, and is made in the usual manner. Its primary wire is in circuit with the electro-magnet P and contact-spring M of the pole-changer M (See Figs. 6 and 7.) There are four contactsprings to the polechanger, the latter working to connect springs M M and M M", which gives one polarity, or connectingsprings M M and M M, which gives the opposite polarity to the current passing to the electrodes held in the binding-posts T. Spring M is in circuit with one of the bindingposts M directly connected with one pole of the battery Lin the present instance the zinc-pole. Spring M is in circuit with the other bindingposts M, which is also in direct connection with the other pole of the battery L. Spring M, as before explained, is in circuit with one terminal of the primary wire of the induction-coil N. Spring M is in circuit respectively with the post I? and its connections with the contact-pin j or bindingpost I, previouslydescribed, and with a contact-pin, N. p

O O are two circuit-closing levers (see Fig. 6) pivoted to a common center, but insulated from each other, and swing in the same are in which are arranged the coutact-pins N to N, inclusive. Of these N has already been described as in circuit with spring M.

N? is in circuit with the wire connecting the clectro-magnet I? withthe primary wire, and also with one terminal of the secondary wire of the induction coil N, and is in circuit with the opposite terminal of the primary wire to that incircuitwith spring M.

N, N, N and N are respectively in circuit with different portions of the secondary wire of the induction-coil, N and N being, respectively, connected with the terminals.

In place of connecting the terminals of one end of each of the primary and secondary wires of the induction-coil N and connecting them to a single contact-pin, N", another 0011' tactepin may be used and the terminal of the secondary wire may be connected thereto; but this would prevent any increase in the reactionary current when the induced current was cut out; but I prefer the construction shown, for the reason that by placing the lei'er O on pin N and lever O on either pin N, N, N, or N part or all of the secondary wire may be put in circuit with the primary wire to increase the reactionary current produced by the said helices when the said rcactionary galvanic current is interrupted and caused to flow through the binding-posts T.

The levers O 0 have it sulating lugs or pins 0 0, which prevent said levers being put in contact when on adjacent pins.

The connection is made from the main bat tery or batteries to the i'aradic apparatus through the contact-springs S B, respectively connected to the terminals from contact-pins jj and spring-contact M and pendulum-support (See Fig. 6.)

The operation of the faradic apparatus is as follows: We will first consider no current to be generated in the main batteries. The

faradic will give either a pure induction-current or a galvanic'current. The battery L being put in action, we obtain a pure inductioncurrent from the binding-posts T T by simply placing lever O on pin 1; and lever O 011, say, N or N to obtain different strengths of current. We obtain an interrupted galvanic current by placing lever O on N and lever O on N", in which case the person holding the clectrodes would be placed in a galvanic circuit, the insulating-pins 0 0 in the levers O 0 preventing short-circuiting of the current by contact between said levers. By this coupling up of the wires the secondary wire of the induction-coil is cutout of circuit, and the reactionary effect of the current in traversing the primary wire of the induction coil alone is thrown into circuit; but by turning lever O to any other pin part or all of the secondary wire is put into circuit. Suppose, for instance, the

levers O O are set as shown in Fig. 6, then.

about one-third of the secondary wire would be put in direct circuit with all of the primary Wire, and thus greatly increase the reactionary effect of the current while passing through the helices. By this means the strength of the reactionary current may be regulated.

By simply turning the pole-changer M the polarity of the current will be changed.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 9, the current is being, slowly interrupted by the vibrating pendulum Q, the operation of which is very similar to automatic electric call-bells, the circuit through the electro-magnet I being interinittently made and broken by the pendulumspring q and contact-screw p, as in the wellknown rheotome.

By turning the ring Q more or less, as shown in Fig. 9, the vibrations or oscillations may be made more rapid, and hence the pulsations in the current are more rapid. If a very rapid in terruption is required, the arm P* is swung around to bring screw over plate-armatu re 1?", and we now have the well-known rheotome. N ow, supposing the main battery or batteries to be in action, the amount of current may be regulated by the contact-wires I and IZas before explained, and by turning thelever Jto the contact-pinj the continuous current from the main battery of any desired strength is caused to pass into the faradic apparatus, and affects the said apparatus in the same manner previously described,only producing a more powerful induction or galvanic current through the person, as the case may be. In most cases the simple faradic cell L is sufficient; but in special cases a verypowerful interrupted current is required, and by simple adjustment the desired strength of current may readily be had with this universal battery.

Vhile I prefer the arrangement of parts shown, I do not limit myself to it, as other arrangements will do equally Well. Neither do I limit myself to the exact construction of the various parts shown, as they may be modified without departing from my invention.

I am aware of the patents to Duscher, N 0. 116,695, of 1871, and Jennison, No. 190,684,

of 1877, and claim nothing therein set forth or shown. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cautery-battery, two or more main batteries of a number of cells each, and conductors to couple up said batteries in series, in combination with commutators permanently secured to the frame-work of said cells to couple up the cells of each of said batteries either for quantity or intensity, whereby a current of the required degree of intensity and quantity may be obtained, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a cautery-battery, two or more main batteries ofa number of cells each, and conductors to couple up said batteries in series, in combination with commutators permanently secured to the frame-work of said cells to couple up the cells of each of said batteries either for quantity or intensity,and means, substantiallyas described, to regulate the depth of immersion of the battcry-plates in the excit in g-iluid, whereby a current of the required de gree of intensity and quantity may be obtained, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a medical battery, one or more main or powerful batteries adapted to cauterizing purposes, combined with binding-posts for the electrodes, commutators permanently secured to the frame-work of said cells to couple up the plates of said battery or batteries for quantity or intensity, a faradic apparatus, and a switch for putting said faradic apparatus in circuit with said main battery, by which the induction may be increased above the normal limit of said faradic apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a medical battery, one or more main or powerful batteries adapted to caute'rizing purposes, combined with binding-posts for the electrodes, commutators permanentlysecured to the framework of said cells to couple up the plates of said batteries or battery for quantity or intensity, a faradic apparatus, aswitch for putting said faradic apparatus in circuit with said main battery, and means, substantially as described and shown, consisting of two interrupters, one for rapid and the other for variable rates of slow vibrations to regulate the number of interruptions per second, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 5. In a medical battery, one or more main or powerful batteries adapted to cauterizing purposes, combined with binding-posts for the electrodes, commutators permanently secured to the frame-work of said cells to couple up the plates of said battery or batteries for quantity or intensity, a faradic apparatus, a switch for putting said faradic apparatus in circuit with said main battery, and switches to increase or diminish the length of wire in circuit in the secondary coil of the inductorium forming part of the faradic apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, in an interrupter for a faradic apparatus, of the electro-magnet 1?, support Q adjusting-ring Q, arm Q, carrying a weight, Q, on one end and the armature Q on the other, spring q, pivot-shaft q, electrical-conductor spring q, screw 19, arm P post P connecting electric circuits, and a battery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, in an interrupter for a faradic apparatus, of the clectro-Inagnet 1?, support Q adjusting-ring Q, arm Q, carrying a weight, Q", on one end and the armature Q on the other, spring q, pivot-shaft g electrical-conductor spring (1 screw 12, pivoted arm 1?, post P spring-armature, connecting electric circuits, and a battery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, in an interrupter for a faradic apparatus, of the electromagnet 1?, support Q adjusting-ring Q, arm Q, carrying aweight, Q, on one end and the armature Q on the other, spring q, pivotshaft g electrical-conduotor spring (1 screw 19, arm 1?, and post 1?, with an induction coil, and switches to increase or decrease the length of wire in circuit in the secondary coil of said induction-coil, connecting electric circuits, and a battery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, in an interrupter for a faradic apparatus, of the electro-magnet P, support Q adjustingring Q arm Q, carrying aweight, Q on one end and the armature Q on the other, spring q, pivot-shaft q, electrical-conductor spring g screw 1), arm 1 and post 1?, with an induction-coil, switches to increase or decrease the length of wire in circuit in the secondary coil of said inductioncoil, connecting electric circuit-s and a battery, a powerful main or cautery battery, and a switch to put said main battery in circuit with the primary wire of the induction-coil interrupter and their battery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination, in an interrupter for a iaradic apparatus, of the electro-magnet P, support Q adjustingring Q, arm Q oarrying aweight, Q, on one end and the armature Q on the other, spring q, pivot-shaft g electrical-conductor spring q, screw 1), arm 19*, post 1, induction-coil N, contact-pins-such as N to N-1evers O 0, having insulating-pins 0 0, and connecting-circuits, all as shown and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

OTTO FLEMMING.

W'itnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, ISAIAH DIATLACK. 

